460 CFHRISriAR MORALITIt, VIZ. [SERM. XXX. him a good report, for his tongue is tipped with religious language, and he seems to be a saint : But in reality he is an universal hypocrite, and true to nothing. Our Lord Jesus hates and censures such a character as this is, and this is the designof his reproof. Again, II. Let it be noted, that this sort of sinners can hold the good word of all men but for a very short time. The drunkards, the profane, and the lewd, may caress a man for a seasonwho complies with their vices; yet when they hear that he pretends to be religious among per- sons ofpiety, they will speak evil of him in abundance, and brand hirn for a hypocrite, which is a more loath- some name; and his pious acquaintance, when they shall find out his practice of secret wickedness, they will justly fix the same odious character upon him. Thus he who before had the good word of all men, shall then be loaded with public scandal and infamy. I add further, III. That a good report signifies a good character and honourable reputation among all wise and good men, upon the account of valuable qualities, and the exercise of virtue and goodness`, and where a man ma- nages his affairs with an excellent conduct in this re- spect, and keeps himself without a blemish, he will command some degree of esteem and reverence from the viler part of the world : Ilis good name will be general, though perhaps not universal ; and if the wicked world finds occasion to speak evil of him in any thing, it is only in the matters of his God, and his exemplary prac- tice of piety. This thought introduces The second objection, viz. if a good name amongst men be so desirable, why does our Saviour say, Mat., v., 11, " Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and shall speak all manner of evil against you, falsely for my sake; then rejoice ye, and be exceedingglad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so persecuted they the pro- phets that were before you." Answer. Itis supposed that the evil which men speak of you is false ; for so our Saviour expresseth it, " when they shall speak all manner of evil against you, falsely for my sake." They shall scandalize you as being ill men, merely because you are christians; and throw Upon you many odiums, which your practice has never
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